goodfellow



N0. 608,596; Patented Aug. 9, I898.

J. H. GUUDFELLUW.

STORE SERVICE APPARATUS;

(Application filed May 12, 1898.)

(No Modal 1. PK: Z

UNITED FTA'TES PATE T @nnrcn.

JOHN n. GOODFELLOW, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNO O THE LAMSON CONSOLIDATED STORE SERVICE COMPANY, OF NEW JERSEY.

STORE-SERVICE APPARATUSu SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 608,596, dated August 9, 1898. Application filed May 12,1896. Serial No- 59l,309. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OHN H. GOODE LLOW, of Lowell, in' the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Store-Service Apparatus, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

This invention relatesto improvements in store-service apparatus of that class in which the carrier is propelled by the separation of a wire from the way.

It has for its objectthe production of novel mechanism for propelling the wire and of novel means for receiving the carrier at the end of a trip.

The invention consists in the novel, construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, such as will be hereinafter fully described, pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanyingdrawings, Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section, of a store service apparatus embodying the invention. In this view the carrier is shown just leaving the propelling mechanism and before the latter has assumed its normal position. Fig.2

is an elevation showing the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 1. In this view the carrier is shown in engagement with the propelling mechanism. Fig; 3 is a plan view, partly in section, of the propelling and the receiv ing mechanisms. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the buffer. and catch mechanism. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view showing the tension-adjusting device. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail perspective view showing the trip for the receiving-catch. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing a modification of the track-section through which the propelling-wire passes. Fig. Sis an enlarged detail view showing the tracksection through which the propelling wire passes. ig. 0 is a sectional view on the line 9 9 of Fig." 2.

In the drawings like reference characters designate corresponding parts.

The hanger 1 is secured to a support of any suitable construction. Attached to its lower end is the foot 2. To the front of the foot is secured an end of the way 3.. The heel of the foot is connected by the' turnbuckle 4 with the stay 5. Bymeans of the turnbuckle and stay the tension on the way can be regulated. The way 3 consists of the track-wire G and the enlarged track-section '7. The two are connected by the sinuous groove 8 in the track-section and the end 9 of the track-wire inserted in the said groove. An end of the track-section opposite to that connected with the track-wire is inserted in the opening in the forward end of the foot 2 and is secured therein by the pin 10.

In the track-section 7, intermediate of its ends, a vertical slot 11 is formed. A grooved pulley 12 is journaled on the pin 13 in the said slot. In Opposite sides of the track-section are formed channels 14, leading from the slot 11 toward the end of the track-section connected with the foot 2.

In the foot 2 is a vertical slot 15, in which the lever 16 is pivoted intermediate of its ends. The propelling-'wire17 passes through theslot 11 and isilooped over the pulley 12. A link 18 connects the end 19 of the wire with the end 20 of the lever. The other end 21 of the wire issecured to the block 22, movably mounted 11 the'rod 2 3,pivoted to the end 24 of the'lever. Therod '23 is' provided with ratchetteeth 25-,with whichthe spring-catch 26 of the block 22 is adapted'to'en'gage, and thereby hold the said block in any position to which it maybe adjusted on the said rod. A guide 2? is attachedto the freeend of the rod 23, through which the wire passes before it leads to the block 22. The block 22, the rod 23, and their adjuncts form a tensionregulating mechanism by means of which the strain on the propelling-wire 17 can headjusted. o p g The lever 16 is providedwith a mechanism for normally holding the lower end of the same in an elevated position. A ring 28 engages with the turnbuckle 4 and has an eye 29, with which an end of the springEEO is connected. The other" end ofthe spring is attached to the lower end of the lever. When the lever is in its normal positionthat is, with its lower end elevated-the propellingwire 17 is held so that its ends are substantially parallel with the way and in register with the channels 14 in the track-section 4.

A buffer and catch mechanism is mounted on the end of the way for receiving the carrier and for preventing it from rebounding. On the track-section 7 a sleeve 31 is movably mounted. It is prevented from rotating thereon by the pin 32, carried by the same and in engagement with one of the channels 14. WVhile this pin prevents the sleeve from rotating, yet it does not interfere with its longitudinal movement on the track-section. Interposed between the inner end of the sleeve 31 and the end of the foot 2 is acoiled spring 33, surrounding the track-section. Pivoted to the front end of the sleeve 31 is the catch 34. A spring 35 is secured to the arm 36 of the catch and bears on the sleeve 31. The spring serves to normally hold the catch in an engaging position.

The catch 34 is operated by a trip mechanism carried by the lever 16. Secured to the upper end of the lever is the trip 37. The latter consists of the clip 38, riveted to the lever. Arms 30 and 40, respectively, are carried by the clip. The arm 30 is substantially straight, except that it is slightly curved at its inner and outer ends. The arm 40 has a bight 41 formed in the inner end of the same. Otherwise it is like the arm 39, except that it is curved in opposite directions. The trip is so mounted on the lever 16 as to engage with the arm 36 of the catch 34 and the sleeve 31 when the said lever is in its normal position.

The carrier 42 is of the ordinary construction. It is provided with sets of upper and lower wheels for engagement with the way. Projecting from the side of the carrier is the lug 43, adapted to be engaged by the catch 34 when the two are brought together.

The operation of the apparatus will now be described. When the lever 16 is in its normal position, as shown in Fig. 2, the wire 17 lies in the channels 14 and offers no obstruction to the passage of the carrier over the track-section 7. A carrier propelled from the opposite end of the way passes over the tracksection 7 and the propelling-wire and strikes against the end of the sleeve 31. The shock of the impact is taken up by the spring 30. When the carrier strikes the sleeve, it is prevented from rebounding by the catch 34 engaging with the lug 43. To propel the carrier, the operator pulls down on the handle of the lever 16 and moves the latter against the action of the spring 30. This movement of the lever operates the trip 37. It is to be observed that when the lever is in its normal position the arm 40 does not press inwardly the arm 36 of the catch 34, as the said arm 36 of the catch is in register with the bight 41. As the lever is moved the outer end of the arm 40 presses against the arm 36, and thereby releases the catch 34 from the lug 43 and frees the carrier. A further movement of the lever separates the ends of the propellingwire 17 back of the carrier, and the latter is thereby driven forward. The force with which the carrier will be propelled depends on the tension of the propelling-wire and the effort of the operator. The pulley 12 allows the wire to pass through the slot 11 without undue friction. hen the lever 16 is released by the operator, it is caused to return to its normal position by the spring 30.

In Fig. 7 a modification of the track-section is shown. I-Iere two pulleys 12 are shown in the slot 11, and the track-section is adapted to be used with two opposite propelling-wires.

While the herein-described embodiment of the invention is the preferred one, yet it can be departed from to a considerable extent without departing from its spirit.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a store-service apparatus, the combination of a way, a looped propelling-wire connected with said way, and a pivoted lever connected with the ends of the said wire for separating the same.

2. In a store-service apparatus, the combination of a way, a lever pivoted intermediate of its ends to said way, and a propelling-wire attached at its ends to said lever on opposite sides of its pivot and looped to extend with said way.

3. In a store-service apparatus, the combination of a way having an enlarged tracksection, a pulley journaled in said track-section, a propelling-wire looped over said wire and running with said way, a carrier traveling on said way and adapted to engage said track-section and said wire, and means for separating said wire from said way.

4. In a store-service apparatus, the combination of a way, a looped propelling-wire connected with said way, a pivoted lever connected with the ends of the said wire for separating the same, and a tension-adjustin g device connected with said wire.

5. In a store-service apparatus, the combination of a way, a propelling-wire, a carrier traveling on said way and adapted to engage with said wire, an operating-lever connected with said wire, a catch mounted on said way and adapted to engage with said carrier, and mechanism carried by said lever for releasing the carrier from the catch on the movement of the lever to propel the carrier.

6. In a store-service apparatus, the combination of a way, a lever pivoted intermediate of its ends to said Way, a pulley mounted on said way, a propelling-wire looped over said pulley and connected at its ends with the ends of said lever, and means for normally holding said lever in such a position as to bring the propelling-wire substantially parallel with said way.

7. In a store-service apparatus, the oolnbiname to this specification, in the presence of nation of a Way, a lever pivoted intermediate two subscribing Witnesses, on this 4th day of of its ends to said Way, a pulley carried by May, A. D. 1896.

said Way in advance of said lever, and a pro- JOHN H. GOODFELLOW. 5 pelling-Wire looped over said pulley and at- Witnesses:

taolled at its ends to the ends of the said lever. W. E. BARNARD,

In testimony whereof I have signed my TM. ROBINSON. 

